Around 5 lakh Indians require organ transplant annually, however only less than 12,000 organ transplants are performed in the country in a year. Despite there being a nearly fourfold increase in cadaver organ donation numbers, the gap between transplants awaited and organs available continues to widen alarmingly. The deceased organ donation rate in India is a mere 0.25 per million population as of 2020. Many of the Indian states still do not have an active deceased donation programme.

Lack of awareness and myths related to organ donation are viewed as the main barriers to organ donation. The need of the hour is sensitizing the public about the organ donation and the concept of brain death. It is also important to encourage them to have a discussion with their loved ones about their wish to be organ donors which would help in overcoming barriers at the time of actual donations.